Altair, a global leader in computational intelligence, and Wichita State University’s (WSU) National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), one of the world’s leading aerospace research institutions, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance innovation across the aerospace and defense industries.

“NIAR is a global leader in aerospace research, and this partnership paves the way for new opportunities to bring cutting-edge technology to the industry,” said Pietro Cervellera, senior vice president of aerospace and defense, Altair. “By combining our expertise, we’re helping companies and startups innovate faster, reduce costs, and bring products to market more sustainably.”

The partnership focuses on three main areas:

- Bringing digital twin technology to industry: Combining NIAR’s certification by analysis (CBA) methodologies with Altair’s simulation and data analytics tools, companies can design, test, and optimize aircraft, drones, and advanced air mobility vehicles faster and more efficiently, reducing the need for costly physical testing.

- Supporting startups: Aerospace and defense startups working with NIAR and WSU will gain privileged access to Altair’s platforms and training to accelerate their product development, testing, certification, and production processes.

- Exploring new applications: The collaboration will explore how digital twins and Altair technology can support broader applications, including maintenance, additive manufacturing, robotics, and defense systems.

“This agreement with Altair provides our students, researchers and clients with access to world-class tools and expertise that will help accelerate development to support the next generation of aerospace technology and innovation,” said John Tomblin, WSU executive vice president for Research and Industry and Defense programs and NIAR executive director.

The agreement comes at a time when the aerospace industry is looking for faster, more efficient ways to develop, test, and certify and manufacture new technologies, from drones to next-generation air mobility vehicles.